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Aortic stiffness is increased in polymyalgia rheumatica and improves after steroid treatment

Giuseppe Schillaci1, Elena Bartoloni, Giacomo Pucci

  • 1Medicina Interna, Angiologia e Malattie da Arteriosclerosi, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia piazzale G. Menghini, 1-06129 Perugia, Italy. skill@unipg.it

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
|January 24, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is linked to increased aortic stiffness. Treatment with prednisone effectively reduces this stiffness, suggesting a benefit in managing cardiovascular risk in PMR patients.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Inflammatory rheumatic diseases, including Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), are associated with elevated cardiovascular risk and arterial stiffness.
  • While PMR involves systemic inflammation, its specific impact on aortic stiffness remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if aortic stiffness is increased in patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR).
  • To assess whether steroid treatment improves aortic stiffness in PMR.

Main Methods:

  • Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and aortic augmentation index were measured in 39 PMR patients and 39 matched controls.
  • Twenty-nine PMR patients were reassessed after 4 weeks of prednisone treatment (15 mg/day).

Main Results:

  • PMR patients exhibited significantly higher aortic PWV compared to controls (12.4 ± 4 vs 10.2 ± 2 m/s).
  • Prednisone treatment led to a significant decrease in aortic PWV (11.8 ± 3 to 10.5 ± 3 m/s) and aortic augmentation index (34 ± 7% to 29 ± 8%).
  • The reduction in aortic PWV correlated with decreased C-reactive protein levels.

Conclusions:

  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica is associated with increased aortic stiffness.
  • Glucocorticoid treatment can improve aortic stiffness, likely by reducing systemic inflammation.

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